C2I 2022 Aerospace and Defence Winner - Sustainable Aviation Test Environment (SATE)

Whilst the push for decarbonisation is dominating innovation across the civil aviation sector, many of the most significant applications of green flight technology have so far occurred at what might be termed the regional end of the market. And one initiative at the forefront of this push in the UK is the Sustainable Aviation Test Environment (SATE), a real-life low carbon aviation testbed based at Kirkwall Airport in the Orkney Islands.

Led by Highlands and Islands Airports (which manages and operates 11 regional airports across the Highlands and Islands of Scotland) the initiative has brought together an international consortium of industry partners, public sector bodies and academia in an effort to drive the development of low carbon air services, explore a range of use cases for alternatively fuelled aircraft and establish a blueprint for net zero regional aviation. 

Launched in November 2020, SATE has already made major strides towards demonstrating how low carbon technology could be used to improve the connectivity of the area and decarbonise regional transport and logistics networks. Key successes include Scotland’s first hybrid-electric flight from Kirkwall airport to Wick John O’Groats (using an aircraft developed by US electric-aircraft pioneer and SATE partner Ampaire); demonstrations of  a parcel-sized gliding drone system developed by UK firm Flare Bright; and a trial of  autonomous UAVs - developed by logistics drone operator Windracers - for delivering Royal Mail cargo.